HOLLYWOOD -- There's nothing press-shy these days about legendary Hollywood lothario Warren Beatty.

He wants to talk and he's particularly eager to rap about Bulworth, his new cinematic opus in which he stars as an incumbent U.S. senator who is so disillusioned about his life and career that he takes out a contract on his own life. Beatty also wrote and directed this scathing political and social satire, his first film since 1994.

In Bulworth, Beatty's crazed senator can suddenly only communicate through rap lyrics.

"These rap artists remind me of the Russian revolutionary poets of the 1960s and they're communicating loud and clear," explains Beatty.

"It's white kids who are buying their records, which shows that there is less of a racial divide with this generation than ever before in America."

Beatty's senator offers an even more radical solution than rap lyrics to America's racial problems when he suggests that interracial sex will make the color barriers disappear once and forever.

"I get to say this because I'm a filmmaker not a politician. We all know this to be true but if a politician were to say this, he would immediately be marginalized or assassinated."

Beatty feels there are those who have tried to trivialize or marginalize his career. He resents the countless articles that have been written about his love life and the speculation about his use of cosmetic surgery.

Beatty's women included Natalie Wood, Julie Christie, Leslie Caron, Diane Keaton and Madonna.

Beatty is adamant that he has "never had any plastic surgery" and adds, "I've been very circumspect about the women I have dated and wish the press would have as much respect for them as I have."

In 1992, Beatty married Annette Bening, his co-star in Bugsy. At the time, she was pregnant with their first child. They have since had two more children.

"I'm being rejuvenated through my children. I've never laughed or cried as much in my life than since I had my children."

Beatty turned 61 this past March.

Halle Berry, his co-star in Bulworth, is 26.

Beatty actually addresses the age difference in the film. The senator asks the girl how old she thinks he is and she answers correctly, much to the delight of the audience.

"The exchange gets a laugh not because of the age difference between the two people but because the audience can sense he hopes she will say 40.

"America is an ageist society as much as it is a racist society. There is much the older generation can learn from the younger generation. Age has never played a factor in my relationships with anyone."

Along with people like Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood, Beatty is one of Hollywood's reigning elder statesmen.

Like his contemporaries, Beatty winces at the suggestion that he is an icon or a legend.

"These terms are ephemeral and goofy. They're terms the press invents. As an artist, if you let yourself get caught up in such concepts, you're headed down a road of unrewarding narcissism."

Beatty reluctantly admits he's had to deal with such labels longer than anyone else.

"I've dealt with celebrity longer than most people. My first film, Splendor in the Grass (1961), was a big hit. It took most of my contemporaries a decade or two to achieve the same kind of recognition."

Surveying his career, Beatty says, "I have done some good work, have had a rewarding personal life and have made enough money not to be easily forgotten."

He hopes the themes in Bulworth are equally enduring.

"This is my most personal film. I've spent most of my life reflecting on American politics so I have a great deal to say about the issues.

"I had to use humor, sex and violence - otherwise, people would have tuned out and I'd have reached no one. I'm savvy enough to know this film will not affect change but it has allowed me to express myself and, at the same time, entertain people.

"That should be the goal of movies but now it's more about making money than anything else. If money had been my prime motivator this time out, I'd have made a much, much different movie."

Beatty is quick to defend Bulworth against claims that it stereotypes African-Americans.

"This is a tragic farce so it has to use heightened characterizations. You're not going to get your laughs if you play things straight and subdued.

"Yes, there are African-American stereotypes in Bulworth but they're balanced by stereotypes of politicians, police and whites."


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